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When you need something to do on your day off, visit Sturtevant's Ski Mart in Tacoma and indulge in a day filled with fun and adventure.
Parking is plentiful, so patrons can feel free to bring their vehicles.

Emerald City Trolley's cars may not run on tracks any longer, but their road-ready tires are just about the only thing that differentiates them from the old-fashioned trolley cars of yore. At the helm of this green, yellow, and wood-trimmed beauty is an experienced guide, who pilots it around Seattle with stops at notable city sightseeing destinations. Hop-on/hop-off routes change with the seasons, but in the winter passengers might visit The Space Needle and the Seattle Art Museum, while the summer route takes them off the beaten path to The Ballard Locks and the Experience Music Project.

Show your team spirit this season with a new and trendy sports jersey or shirt from Kent's Moxie's Powder House.
Shop great deals and steals on activewear at Moxie's Powder House and head to your next workout dressed in comfortable attire.
Don't miss your mark this hunting season with out-of-date gear. Pick up only the best equipment and ammunition at this store.
Take advantage of the many nearby parking options and enjoy the quick trip to and from your car.
Want to play like a pro? Gear up like one with some of the latest sports equipment from Moxie's Powder House in Kent.

Take your gym look to the max with the great sports wares at X Streme Board Sports in Black Diamond.
If you are visiting X Streme Board Sports, you can take advantage of the nearby parking options during your stay.
If you just signed up for a new sports league, you will want to swing by X Streme Board Sports in Black Diamond and stock up on sporting goods.

Amid Crystal Mountain’s 2,600 acres, skiers can shoot down wide groomers, weave through glades, and float down mogul-filled bowls. While experts take advantage of two in-bounds backcountry areas, beginners cut their teeth on plenty of easier runs. Plus, since the resort is within Mt. Rainier National Park, everyone gets to enjoy spectacular views of the dormant volcano from the comfort of the gondola.

Following a strict Leave No Trace philosophy, Backcountry Adventure Guides instills environmental stewardship in each of its participants as they venture on fitness-filled nature jaunts. Whether climbing, skiing, or snowshoeing, the trio of guides—all of whom boast extensive outdoor sports backgrounds—uses each trek as an opportunity to stress the importance of preserving our natural surroundings and refusing to shave Bigfoot no matter how much money he offers.

Groupon Guide

It took a couple of tries before we finally connected with Peter McClelland, a man who’s more accustomed to hearing dogs barking than cell phones ringing. As a dog-sledding expert and co-owner of White Wilderness Sled Dog Adventures, McClelland spends most of his time outside among the snowy pines of Ely, Minnesota, tending to his pack of Alaskan huskies and teaching visitors the ins and outs of being a musher. Fortunately, we were able to catch the soft-spoken naturalist between dog-sledding trips to learn what an average day in his not-so-average life is like.How does your day begin?“First thing in the morning,” McClelland says, “we get up, feed the dogs, pooper-scoop the grounds, and pack our people food for the day trips. When customers start showing up, we make sure they have the right gear and are prepared for the day.”How long is your average dog-sledding trip?Most trips include a brief orientation and last from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but McClelland says that can vary depending on the distance. “On a single day,” he explains, “we’ll [sled] between 20 and 30 miles. We have a stop at lunchtime, where we build a fire and cook brats.”What’s it like to spend all that time outside?“We’re in the Superior National Forest, and it’s a spiderweb of snowy trails out here,” McClelland says, but he doesn’t seem to mind the cold. In fact, he’ll often head out on the icy rim of Lake Superior for an afternoon barbecue. Dog-sledding is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle for a while; the closest airport to Ely (population: 3,455) is two hours away, and the terrain farther out gets even more secluded.What’s your favorite part of the day?“[I love] seeing the dogs grow up and learn how to do everything,” McClelland says. “We usually start training them at four months, though they won’t pull trips until they’re over a year old.”How does your day end?“The dogs come in, everybody rubs them down, they get treats, and then they get fed their second meal.” So, what do these ultra-athletic dogs eat? “We feed them ground-up meat and a high-energy dog food that’s 32% protein and 32% fat. These dogs burn a lot of calories, so it’s a high-calorie food.” What’s something about your day that would surprise people?Films and TV shows have depicted plenty of mushers cracking whips and gruffly yelling at their team, but McClelland says it’s much more relaxed than that. “The dogs don’t have reins or anything like horses,” he tells us. “They’re hooked up to each other as a team and they follow voice commands: ‘Ge’ for right, ‘haw’ for left, ‘alright’ to go, and ‘whoa’ to stop.” People might also be surprised to learn that a dog sled doesn’t really have a place to sit down. “A sled has two runners,” McClelland explains. “You stand on the back and have a handlebar and a couple of brakes, which are your biggest friends when you’re out there.”Do you find it easy to leave your job at work when you go home?It’s hard to leave your job at work when you technically work from home. “We actually live here,” McClelland says, referring to White Wilderness’s onsite cabin. “The dogs stay outside. They each have their own house.”What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you on the trail?“We ran into a wolf one time. We ran about 100 yards before our team would stop. The wolf would watch us, then catch up slowly, and when it got too close, we’d take off. It did that for about 20 minutes.” Although adventurers aren’t guaranteed to see a wolf on every trip (McClelland says the wild creatures are actually more timid than huskies), they’re sure to be dazzled by a mode of transportation that, after more than 1,000 years, is still alive and well—if you know where to look for it. Just don’t expect the dog-sledders to answer the phone every time.Read about other ways to spend time in the snow:Five Things to Know Before You Go Cross-Country SkiingHow to Build an Igloo, as Explained by an Arctic ExplorerAn Eagle Scout’s 10 Tips for Camping in the Snow

To say that John Downing knows a little something about cross-country skiing is to understate matters entirely. In fact, the director of the World Masters Cross-Country Ski Association has more than 40 years of experience in the sport. His first introduction to skiing came on a family outing when he was just a child, and he has since made it part of his daily routine. After skiing for decades at the professional and international levels, Downing founded XCSkiWorld.com to share his love of the sport with everyone. The site continues to provide resources and communication tools for members of American Cross Country Skiers (AXCS), but we were more interested in Downing's skiing advice for beginners. He obliged us with five tips that can help anyone strap on skis and step out into the snow.Take a Lesson Before Hitting the TrailsIt’s often said that, if you can walk, you can cross-country ski. According to Downing, that’s only partly true. “It may be true in that, yes, you’re capable of doing it,” he explains, “but it doesn’t mean you have the skill sets” necessary to succeed. The best thing a beginner can do is take some lessons and master the basic techniques before hitting the trail.Rent Before You Buy“It’s really a bad idea to just go in and buy a bunch of gear,” Downing says. “There are two different techniques—two different ways to propel yourself—and you don’t know what style you’re going to prefer.” He recommends renting gear from the ski area you’ll be in, as opposed to renting skis closer to home and taking them up with you. This will ensure that you get the proper equipment for the type of snow and track you’ll be skiing on. And whatever you do, don’t try to use alpine skis. The bindings are different, and the equipment in general is a lot heavier.Get Ready for a Serious WorkoutCross-country skiing might look relaxing, but it’s actually a fairly rigorous aerobic workout. “You’ve got four limbs working,” Downing explains, “and you’re propelling yourself over snow, which a lot of times has a high degree of friction.” That’s to say nothing of the typically high altitudes, which cause the body to work harder than it would at sea level.Dress in Light, Breathable LayersBecause it’s such a workout, cross-country skiers should consider wearing light, breathable layers instead of what they’d normally wear out in the cold. That means no puffy coats, no snow pants, no big goggles, and no cotton or denim. Downing recommends light athletic pants or tights, a moisture-wicking top and jacket, and thin gloves. As a general rule of thumb, he says, wear the type of clothing “you’d feel comfortable running a couple miles in on a winter’s day.”Stay on the TrailsWhile backcountry skiing is popular among veterans, Downing doesn’t recommend it for beginners. Instead, he advises, look for designated cross-country trails, where tracks are prepared by a machine for easier traversing. These trails are smoother, flatter, and much more predictable. This doesn’t mean, however, that you’ll be in for a boring session. “Cross-country ski trails are almost always built on a rolling terrain,” Downing explains. “That’s what makes the sport fun.”Read more about skiing:Common Types of Skiing, Ranked by a Beginner's Level of TerrorHow to Behave on the Slopes: A Ski Instructor’s Advice for BeginnersTake a Bird’s-Eye Safari on the Ski Lift

If you’re interested in snowshoeing but not sure if you’re a natural, Michael Bucek of the United States Snowshoe Association has good news. “The learning curve for snowshoeing is lightning-fast,” Bucek explains. “You may have to adjust your gait, but you’re essentially walking.” In his estimation, snowshoeing is by far the easiest of winter’s sports—so long as you aren’t doing it on, say, the slopes of Mount Rainier. Not quite trusting ourselves on snowshoes, we asked Bucek to share some advice for beginners. Before stomping away in the snow, he offered some helpful tips on where to go, what to wear, and—perhaps most importantly—how not to faceplant.You Don’t Need to Be an Athlete to SnowshoeThough Bucek insists that snowshoeing is “extraordinarily easy and anybody who's in reasonable shape can do it,” there are some caveats. “It’s harder than walking,” he warns, “because each snowshoe is going to be a few pounds apiece on your foot.” It’s also more difficult to walk on fresh, unpacked snow, so beginners should stick to the trails.Wear a Good Pair of BootsIdeally, you’ll want to lace up some hiking shoes or waterproof winter boots before strapping into your snowshoes. “Don’t wear street shoes or sneakers if you go more than a quarter mile,” Bucek says, as they’ll likely soak through. A good pair of wool socks doesn’t hurt, either.Bring Some Snacks and an Extra Layer of ClothingBecause snowshoeing is less strenuous than skiing, your metabolism—and thus your body heat—will probably be quite a bit lower. Bucek advises wearing more clothes than you would to ski, as well as packing some small, lightweight snacks. After all, “what you’re doing is a hike. It just happens to be on snowshoes.”Walk in a Wider Stance Than You’re Used To“The shape of the snowshoe affects how you walk,” Bucek explains. “They’re wider than your normal shoes, so you’ll have to adjust your legs out slightly wider.” If you don’t, you’ll end up stepping on your own snowshoe, which is the surest path to a faceplant.When Walking Uphill, Dig InMost snowshoes have pointed crampons to give you a better grip in the snow. “When you’re going up a moderate hill,” Bucek explains, these crampons “give you a couple of inches of bite so you don’t backslide into the snow.” Make sure your crampons are planted deep in the snow, and you should have no problem staying upright.Share the Trail with Skiers, and Don’t Crush Their TracksMost parks have a trail that snowshoers share with cross-country skiers. Practice common courtesy and don’t crush the skiers’ parallel tracks. “When [skiers] are going fast and they come to a missing track, it’s not as bad as when a train goes off a track, but it can make them tumble,” Bucek says.Wear Larger Snowshoes to Avoid SinkingSnowshoes come in various sizes, and those with larger footprints can support heavier people with more supplies. But even if you’re a lightweight, you might want to consider larger shoes when trudging through fresh snowfall. “Snow that is already turned up in well-worn trails is going to require [a smaller] snowshoe,” Bucek explains, whereas deep powder requires a larger footprint that disperses weight over a wider area.Before Planning a Trip, Try Snowshoeing in Your Local ParkWhen it comes to where you can snowshoe, Bucek has no shortage of recommendations. Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, Yosemite National Park in California, the Adirondacks in New York, and the Boundary Waters in Minnesota are all great choices in his book. But he recommends first taking advantage of the park down the road. “The ones by me have unbelievable trips,” he says, as do many smaller ski areas.